Soldier's father gives thanks for scholarship fund created in son's memory

A year ago, Luigi Marciante was heartbroken. He lived through the worst nightmare of any father, attending the burial of his youngest son, 25-year-old Luigi Marciante Jr., killed in Iraq.

But as he stood behind a podium today addressing the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Spotswood, he could do nothing but give thanks: Joseph Cary, a neighbor of some close family friends, was so touched by Marciante's story he decided to fund a scholarship in Marciante's name with the church.

Patti Sapone/The Star-LedgerA plaque honoring US Army Corporal Luigi Marciante, Jr. is seen at left, while Msgr. Joseph Curry, right, prays during a special Thanksgiving Celebration today honoring US Army Corporal Luigi Marciante, Jr. killed in Iraq.

The church took it one step further, dedicating a special mass and Thanksgiving ceremony today to Marciante, a native of Elizabeth, and all veterans who served in the armed forces.

"Today, our family is moved by this gesture," said Marciante, standing next to a plaque adorning his son's image. "All you people of Spotswood, thank you very much."

The small, quiet Middlesex Count town knows the pain of losing a soldier all too well. Just three months ago, resident Michael Gonzalez, a member of the military police, was killed in Baghdad. And in a tight-knit community where everyone knows everybody, church halls, storefronts and schoolrooms were filled with talk of shock and mourning.

But, to paraphrase a well-known Bible passage read today, the ceremony was not a time to mourn but a time to heal and a time to give thanks. Gonzalez's parents sat at the service visibly emotional throughout, and they were particularly honored to meet the Marciante family.

"All the people serving in Iraq are my heroes," said Ida Gonzalez, his mother. "All I want to do is pray for the troops and not to forget them. The power of prayer is what's going to help these soldiers there."

Choir renderings of "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America" echoed through the church halls alongside traditional church hymns like "Gift of Finest Wheat."

Monsignor Joe Curry dedicated his homily to Luigi Marciante, Jr. and discussed what he called the often anonymous service members who give their lives for their country.

"He gave the ultimate sacrifice," said Curry. "Men and women for over 200 years have fought for us, defending what we have. We gather today to say thank you to them."

The church also incorporated honoring veterans into its school programs. Students from Immaculate Conception were given the name of service members in the town to remember in their daily prayers. Photos of those currently serving adorn a display in the school's main lobby, and each photo will be taken down as they return.

Elementary school students followed the mass with an elaborate show in the school's auditorium. Children waved miniature American flags and sang traditional American songs like "This Land is Your Land" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" to camera-yielding parents and moved veterans. One presentation had students reciting poems and writings from every major American conflict.

Jack Iannaccone watched the performance from his seat both proud and concerned, knowing his own 26-year-old son, Jeffrey, was stationed in Afghanistan serving in the Air Force. Last month at mass, Iannaccone read a letter from his son thanking the church for remembering those still overseas.

"It's nice to see that the sacrifices and efforts made by our sons and daughters are appreciated," said Iannaccone. "That's what Thanksgiving is all about."

The $5,000 scholarship, funded by Cary, will be honored every year to a graduating eighth grade student that shows a commitment community service. Cary worked as a trader in the J.P. Morgan building just blocks by the World Trade Center and walked through the pitch-black smoke on Sept. 11.

He said watching firefighters and police officers run toward Ground Zero impacted his life, and he sees the volunteers who sign up for the military in the same light.

"We're running as fast as we can out, and people were running as fast as they can in," said Cary. "I just feel like, I need to be able to give back as much as I can to those men and women who do that. What better way to honor someone than to have their name forever in memory and people get educated, knowing the story. And maybe they tell that story, and inspire others to get involved."